Hometown News — 1943

Promotion for Stanley TompkinsWord has been received here by friends, that Lt. (j.g) Stanley Tompkins of the U. S. Navy was recently promoted to that rank from ensign. Lt. Tompkins, who is somewhere in the South Pacific, was the commerce instructor in Gallatin High school at the time he entered the service.

Brother and Sister in the ServicePvt. John R. Matheny (picture) enlisted in the Army in July, 1942, in Kansas City and was sent to Jefferson Barracks. From there he went to Ft. Sill, Okla., where he received his basic training, in the Field Artillery. About 6 months later he obtained transfer to the Army Air Corps, being classified at Sen Antonio and going to Hondo, Texas in the ground j forces. Here he took a course and I received a Post Mechanics’ diploma and also won two marksman and one sharpshooter medal on different weapons. After that he was made instrument man in plane maintenance. For a few weeks he was stationed at Laredo, Texas, on the Mexican border, in an air squadron. From there he was sent back to Hondo, where he has just recently been promoted to the rank of crew chief, having the responsibility of maintenance on a plane. His wife and son, James Richard, are living with him at Hondo, Texas, having joined him there when he was returned from Laredo.

Benicia J MathenyBenicia J. Matheny, (picture) A/S enlisted in the WAVES the first part of September, after being sworn in, she came home to Gallatin until she was ordered to Hunter college, New York City, on Oct. 17, where she is now receiving training. Benicia had been employed in Kansas City for the last year by McDonald Title Company. During this time she had several promotions but feeling that she was not doing enough in the war effort she gave up her position in July and came home to help on the Guernsey Farm, of which her father is manager.

Gentry County Boy Killed in ActionHarlie Ferguson, native of Gentry county and a graduate of the Grandview Consolidated high school, has been reported killed in action in the Southwest Pacific, according to word received last Friday by his uncle, Judge S.J. Rainey. He was a petty officer in the United States Navy and had been in service six or eight years, Judge Rainey said. Ferguson was the third son of the late James T. Ferguson. He is survived by his mother, who lives in Tulsa, Okla., and by five brothers all of them Grandview students and four of them now serving in the armed forces. The brothers are John Ferguson of Okmulgee, Okla.; Donald Ferguson, also in navy service; Willis Ferguson, in army service in North Africa; James Ferguson, in, army training in Louisiana, and Hobart Ferguson, inducted into army service two weeks ago.  Tri-County News

He Needs No Introduction  Sends Greetings io Daviess County Friends(picture) Leo (Tubby) Feurt S 1/c in the U. S. Navy, needs no introduction to most of the readers of this paper, as for many years, he was a popular business man in Gallatin. He joined the navy last December and is now a ship’s tailor, following his usual line of work as just prior to entering the navy he traveled for M. Born tailoring house of Chicago and for a number of years owned and managed Tubby’s Cleaning and Tailoring shop here. He sends greetings from the South Pacific to all of his Daviess county friends. His wife, Mrs. Cecil Feurt, is a teacher in the Gallatin Public school.

Ren G. Foster Honor Man of CompanyRen G. Foster, 30, has been named honor man of his company on completion of recruit training at Camp Waldron, one of the five training centers at Farrage Naval Training station. Prior to his being called into the service, Foster was superintendent of schools for three years at Cowgill, Mo. His bachelor of science degree is from the University of Missouri. He was chosen honor man of his company on the basis of excellent averages in the many phases of the recruit training program. After a 15-day recruit leave, he hopes to qualify as a tower control operator or quartermaster school student. His wife, Mary, and 1-year-old daughter, Lila Sue, reside in Jamesport, Mo., and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Foster, in Sampsel, Mo .

Has Grandson in the SeabeesPhillip H, Curtis, grandson of Mr. and Mrs. P. O. Fetters of near Gallatin, is in the navy Seabees and is stationed at Williamsburg, Va. He is a son of Mrs. Ruth Curtis of San Jose, Calif. His mother will be recalled by many as the former Ruth Fetters, who was reared in Daviess County.

— from the Gallatin North Missourian, scrapbook clippings provided by Lucille Bruce